UC Fall 2013

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Article 1. General Provisions
1.01 Rationale.
The University of Houston can best function and accomplish its objectives in an atmosphere of high
ethical standards. It expects and encourages all students, faculty and staff to contribute to such an
atmosphere in every way possible and especially by observing all accepted principles of academic
honesty. It is recognized, however, that a large university will include a few students who do not
understand, appreciate, and practice these principles. As a consequence, alleged cases of academic
dishonesty will inevitably occur, and students will be accused. The following procedures are
designed to handle these cases in fairness to all concerned: the accused student, the faculty, and the
University of Houston.
1.02 General Jurisdiction.
Matters relating to academic honesty are within the general jurisdiction of the senior vice president
for academic affairs and provost. Allegations of scientific misconduct against students engaged in
research supported by funding from the University of Houston or other sources will be handled
according to the University of Houston Ethical Conduct in Academic Research and Scholarship
Policy (To obtain a paper copy, contact the Division of Research at 713-743-9222 or at
www.research.uh.edu).
1.03 College with Jurisdiction.
Specific jurisdiction in academic honesty matters rests in each school or college of the University of
Houston. The school or college with jurisdiction is determined by the course in which dishonesty
occurs. If the student involved majors in a college other than that offering the course, the college
offering the course has jurisdiction. If the college with jurisdiction cannot be determined from the
relationship between the alleged actions of a student or group of students and a particular course,
then the provost will designate which has jurisdiction.
1.04 Colleges to which the Policy Applies.
The policy on academic honesty applies to all colleges within the university. However, any college
may present to the provost a code separate from this university policy. After approval by the
provost, and after such publication as the provost shall direct, academic honesty matters over
which that college has jurisdiction shall be governed by that code. Honor systems within the
professional colleges are especially encouraged.


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1.05 Questions Regarding Applicability of Policies.
All questions regarding the applicability of college codes or University of Houston policy or special
provisions of either shall be determined finally by the provost.
1.06 Compass of Actions Taken Against Students.
Actions taken against students are university-wide in their effect, unless otherwise specified.
1.07 Faculty Responsibility.
Faculty shall have the responsibility of reporting incidents of alleged academic dishonesty through
their departmental hearing officer to their college hearing officer.
1.08 Student Responsibility.
Students shall have the responsibility of reporting incidents of alleged academic dishonesty to the
instructor involved, or to the appropriate authority if the alleged act is not associated with a specific
class.
1.09 Purpose of Procedures.
The purpose of these procedures is to provide for the orderly administration of the Academic
Honesty Policy consistent with the principles of due process of law. Reasonable deviations from
these procedures will not invalidate a decision or proceeding unless the provost determines, upon
written appeal from the accusing and/ or accused parties, that the deviation will result in prejudice
to one or more of the parties involved.
1.10 Instructor Responsibility.
Instructors shall have the responsibility of taking action with respect to incidents of alleged
academic dishonesty in accordance with this Academic Honesty Policy.
1.11 Definitions.
1.11.01 Class Day.
Class days, for purposes of this policy, are defined as days the University of Houston is open and
classes are meeting (excluding Saturdays) as posted in the academic calendar, excluding
professional colleges and programs.
1.11.02 Internal Use.
Internal use defines who has access to a students records. Records for internal use will be released
only to University of Houston officials who have an educational purpose to know the information
included in the students records.

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1.11.03 Academic Record.
Academic record includes documents, forms, copies, reports, statements, recordings, etc. that are
acquired while a student attends the University of Houston. The information is available to outside
sources according to the procedures established by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
1.11.04 Sanction.
Sanction means the penalty assessed for a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy.
1.11.05 Instructor.
Instructor refers to a faculty member, lecturer, teaching assistant, or teaching fellow in charge of
the section in which an alleged violation of this Academic Honesty Policy has occurred. Such
individuals will typically be the instructor of record of the course section in question. In instances
where this is not the case, instances of alleged cheating should be reported to the supervisor (e.g.,
laboratory supervisor) of the instructor as well as the departmental hearing officer.
1.11.06 Departmental Hearing Officer.
Departmental hearing officer refers to the person responsible for facilitating the departmental
procedures related to the alleged violation(s) of the academic honesty policy. Typically the
department chair serves in the role or an individual designated by the department chair.
If the college responsible for the course in question does not have individual departments for the
course, departmental hearing officer as used below shall refer to the individual designated by the
dean of the college to act as the initial hearing officer in academic honesty cases (see Article 5.02).
1.11.07 College Hearing Officer.
The college hearing officer is designated by the dean of the college in which the alleged violation of
the academic honesty policy occurs and is responsible for facilitating the college procedures related
to the alleged violation of the academic honesty policy.
1.11.08 Student.
Student refers to any individual who has ever registered and paid (made a complete payment or
has made at least one installment payment) for a course, or courses at the University of Houston.
This definition would normally include undergraduate students, graduate students,
postbaccalaureates, professional school students and individuals auditing courses.
1.12 Notification.
All required written notices shall be addressed to the student via their UH email or US mail at
his/her mailing address as it appears in University of Houston records. It is the responsibility of the
student to keep his/her current email and mailing address up to date on his/her student record
(my.uh.edu). A notice properly addressed and so sent shall be presumed to have been received by
the student.
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1.13 Retaliation
The University of Houston prohibits retaliatory action against persons who report incidents of
alleged academic dishonesty under this policy, are suspected of having reported incidents of alleged
academic dishonesty under this policy, who are identified to serve or have served as witnesses in
any academic honesty proceeding, or who are identified to serve or have served on an Academic
Honesty Panel. Any acts of retaliation will be referred to the appropriate office for review and
response.
Article 2. Preventive Practices
2.01 Preventive Measures.
Instructors can help students comply with the academic honesty policy by minimizing temptation
to act dishonestly. Measures instructors should consider are:
a. Maintaining adequate security precautions in the preparation and handling of tests;
b. Structuring the type and sequence of examination questions so as to discourage dishonesty;
c. Providing ample room for proper spacing of students during examinations, when possible;
d. Monitoring examinations, especially in large classes and in classes where not all students are
known to the instructor or the assistant;
e. Making clear to their students the rules concerning the use of electronic devices;
f. Making clear to their students, in writing, what constitutes academic dishonesty, particularly in
those classes where group activities (laboratory exercises, generation of field reports, etc.) are part
of the instructional process;
g. Requiring students to show a picture ID and sign major assignments and exams; and
h. Helping raise consciousness of the issue of academic honesty by asking students to sign an honor
pledge in the first week of class and to write a short honor pledge in their own hand on their major
assignments.
Article 3. Categories of Academic Dishonesty
3.01 Application of the Academic Honesty Policy.
This policy applies to those acts of dishonesty committed by a student while enrolled at the
University of Houston.





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3.02 Academic Dishonesty Prohibited.

Academic dishonesty means employing a method or technique or engaging in conduct in an
academic endeavor that the student knows or should know is not permitted by the University of
Houston or a course instructor to fulfill academic requirements. Academic dishonesty includes, but
is not limited to, the following:

Plagiarism
a. Representing as ones own work the work of another without acknowledging the source
(plagiarism). This would include submitting substantially identical laboratory reports or
other materials in fulfillment of an assignment by two or more individuals, whether or not
these used common data or other information, unless this has been specifically permitted
by the instructor;

Cheating and Unauthorized Group Work

b. Openly cheating in an examination, as copying from anothers paper;

c. Possessing on one's person during an examination, quiz or any in-class assignment an
electronic device that allows communication with another person, access to unauthorized
material, access to the internet, or the ability to capture an image, unless such possession is
expressly permitted by the instructor;
d. Using crib notes, as unauthorized use of notes or the like to aid in answering questions
during an examination;
e. Giving or receiving unauthorized aid during an examination, such as trading
examinations, whispering answers, and passing notes, and using electronic devices to
transmit or receive information;
f. Securing another to take a test in the students place. Both the student taking the test for
another and the student registered in the course are at fault;
Fabrication, Falsification, and Misrepresentation
g. Changing answers or grades on a test that has been returned to a student in an attempt to
claim instructor error;
h. Using anothers laboratory results as ones own, whether with or without the permission
of the owner;
i. Falsifying results in laboratory experiments;
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j. Misrepresenting academic records or achievements as they pertain to course
prerequisites or corequisites for the purpose of enrolling or remaining in a course for which
one is not eligible;
Stealing and Abuse of Academic Materials
k. Stealing, as theft of tests or grade books, from faculty offices or elsewhere; this includes
the removal of items posted for use by the students;
l. Mutilating or stealing library materials; misshelving materials with the intent to reduce
accessibility to other students;
Complicity in Academic Dishonesty

m. Failing to report to the instructor or departmental hearing officer an incident which the
student believes to be a violation of the academic honesty policy;
Academic Misconduct
n. Any other conduct which a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances would
recognize as dishonest or improper in an academic setting.

Article 4. Sanctions
4.01 Sanctions.
The sanctions for confirmed violations of this policy shall be commensurate with the nature of the
offense and with the record of the student regarding any previous infractions.
Sanctions may include, but are not limited to: a lowered grade, failure on the examination or
assignment in question, failure in the course, probation, suspension, or expulsion from the
University of Houston, or a combination of these.
If a sanction of probation or suspension is assigned, it must have a specified starting and ending
date, unless the sanction is expulsion, in which case, an end date is not specified. Students are not
permitted enrollment under sanctions of suspension and expulsion.
A student who is found to have violated the Academic Honesty Policy at the departmental or college
level before the end of an academic term may remain enrolled in the course at issue while any
appeal provided for under this policy is pending. Sanctions do not become final and may not be
applied while any appeal provided for under this policy is pending.
Students may not receive a W for courses in which they have been found guilty of a violation of the
Academic Honesty Policy. If a W is received prior to a guilty finding, the student will become liable
for the Academic Honesty penalty, including F grades.

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4.02 Probation, Suspension, and Expulsion.
The terms probation, suspension and expulsion as used herein refer to these sanctions only as they
are imposed as a result of violations of this Academic Honesty Policy. All policies and procedures
for the imposition and appeal of these sanctions are contained within this policy.
Article 5. Departmental Hearing
5.01 Departmental Hearing.
When an instructor has reasonable grounds to believe that a student has committed an act of
academic dishonesty, the instructor shall notify the departmental hearing officer of the concerned
department, in writing, within five class days of discovery. Students who believe they have
observed an act of academic dishonesty shall report the incident to the instructor, as soon as
possible, who shall then report the incident in writing to the departmental hearing officer within
five class days. In case waiver of a hearing is an option as provided in Article 5.04, the departmental
hearing officer shall, within five class days of receiving the instructors report, inform the accused
student in writing of the nature of the violation and the recommended sanction, and ask the student
to select between the hearing and waiver options.
If the departmental hearing officer has not received a response within 10 class days of the
notification of these options, the departmental hearing officer shall, within the next five class days,
schedule a departmental hearing. In case waiver of a hearing is not an option, the departmental
hearing officer shall, within 10 class days of receiving the instructors report, schedule a
departmental hearing. To schedule a departmental hearing, the departmental hearing officer shall
notify the instructor, the accused student and the accusing party, if other than the instructor, of the
nature of the alleged violation and the time and date of the hearing as provided in Article 1.12.
Should any of the parties fail to appear, without good cause, at the departmental hearing, the
departmental hearing officer may render a decision in their absence.
Both the instructor and the student shall have an opportunity to present their cases during the
above hearing. This may include the introduction of documents and/or physical evidence as well as
statements from individuals who have knowledge of the circumstances. Both parties have an
opportunity to examine the documents pertaining to the alleged violations during the hearing. If
either party intends to have individuals appear at the hearing for such statements or as legal
counsel, the departmental hearing officer must be notified at least three class days before the
hearing. If either party will be advised by legal counsel, the hearing cannot be held with such
counsel in attendance unless a representative from University of Houston legal counsel is also
present.
If physical evidence or witness testimony is presented in a departmental hearing, and if either party
needs reasonable time to review the evidence and/or consider the witness testimony, either party
may request a postponement of the departmental hearing. Decisions on postponement of the
hearing will be made at the discretion of the departmental hearing officer.
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The departmental hearing officer shall render a decision within three class days after the hearing
and forward copies of the decision to the student, instructor, and college hearing officer of the
college responsible for the course in which the alleged violation occurred. Both the accused student
and the instructor have equal option of appeal if the decision of the departmental hearing officer is
not acceptable. If a written appeal is not received by the college hearing officer of the college within
ten class days of the decision at the departmental level, the action recommended by the
departmental hearing officer shall be implemented. A departmentally recommended sanction
involving suspension or expulsion shall be reviewed in a college hearing unless such hearing is
waived as provided in Article 5.05 below.
5.02 Colleges without Departments.
For colleges that do not have individual departments, the decision of the initial hearing officer
designated by the dean of the college shall constitute the equivalent of a departmental decision.
Only if this decision is reviewed and upheld by the college by virtue of appeal or automatic review
would a college decision be rendered. The hearing officer for the college appeal or review shall not
be the initial hearing officer.
5.03 Group Violations of the Academic Honesty Policy.
At the discretion of the departmental hearing officer, in instances where two or more students are
alleged to be involved in the same infraction of the academic honesty policy, the case against the
whole group will be dealt with at a single hearing. The facts common to all cases will be presented
with all students allegedly involved in attendance. Each student shall be allowed to present his/her
statement to the departmental hearing officer separately. If requested by the presenting student,
such statements shall be presented outside the hearing of the other students.
5.04 Waiver of Departmental Hearing.
Upon notifying the departmental hearing officer of the alleged violation, the faculty member shall
have the option of suggesting to the departmental hearing officer a sanction for the alleged
violation of the Academic Honesty Policy that would, if acceptable to the student, instructor, and
departmental hearing officer, preclude a departmental hearing. Such sanctions would normally
include reduced or zero credit for a test assignment, a grade of F in a course, or other such agreed
upon sanctions. Sanctions involving disciplinary probation or sanctions requiring a college level
hearing cannot be used. In cases for which the instructor suggests a sanction so as to preclude the
departmental hearing, the accused shall be notified, in writing, by the departmental hearing officer
of the choice of: (1) admitting the alleged academic honesty violation, waiving the formal
departmental hearing, and accepting the associated sanction; or (2) proceeding to a formal
departmental hearing. Upon electing the waiver of a departmental hearing, the students name will
be placed on a list that is maintained, by the department, the office of the dean of the college, and
the Office of the Provost, until graduation. Following graduation, the student can request that
his/her name be removed from these lists. An agreement to settle an academic honesty infraction
via a waiver of the formal departmental hearing will not result in any record being kept that is
reflected on the students transcript. The waiver of a departmental hearing process must be agreed
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to by the instructor, the student, and the departmental hearing officer. In the event that all three
cannot agree to a waiver, the case must be moved to a formal departmental hearing. A student is
eligible for a waiver only if he/she has no prior waiver and no previous findings of violation of the
Academic Honesty Policy. A formal departmental hearing will be scheduled should a student fail to
respond to written notifications concerning the alleged violation of the academic honesty policy.
5.05 Waiver of Automatic College Hearing.
If a student wishes to accept a departmentally recommended sanction of suspension or expulsion,
he or she may submit a written waiver form to the college hearing officer no later than 10 class
days after being notified of the departmental decision. The waiver form is issued from the Office of
the Dean of Students only after the student has met with the dean of students (or his/her
designated representative), who will ensure that the student is aware of his/her rights in the appeal
process. The college hearing officer shall then implement the departmental decision and notify the
appropriate parties of the disposition of the case within five class days of receipt of the waiver
request. The sanction is considered a college level decision.
5.06 Conflict of Interest.
When departmental or college hearing officers are themselves party to a case, they shall in no way
participate in the administration of the policy in that case. Such responsibilities shall pass to faculty
and administrators not directly involved in the case.
Article 6. College Hearing
6.01 College Hearing.
If either the student or the instructor wishes to appeal the decision of the departmental hearing
officer, he or she must file a written request for a hearing with the college hearing officer within 10
class days of the departmental hearing officers decision. Within 10 class days of receipt of such a
request, the college hearing officer will set a time, date and place for the hearing. The college
hearing is a de novo hearing in which the Panel must consider all the evidence on all the issues
presented in the appeal as though no previous action had been taken.
6.02 College Hearing Officer.
The college hearing officer shall be appointed by the dean. Typically the college hearing officer will
be appointed for a full academic year. Correspondence with the college hearing officer should be
addressed to the office of the dean of the college.
6.03 Duties of the College Hearing Officer.
It shall be the duty of the college hearing officer to:
a. Select a college academic honesty panel;
b. Set and give notice of the time and place of the college hearing;
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c. Conduct the hearing in an orderly manner so that both sides are given an opportunity to state
their case;
d. Rule on procedural matters;
e. Leave the hearing room during the panels deliberations but remain available to answer
questions on procedural matters; and
f. Prepare and submit one copy of the decision to the dean and one copy to the provost. The college
hearing officer shall not take part in the vote or otherwise participate in the deliberations of the
panel.
6.04 Academic Honesty Panel.
The college academic honesty panel shall consist of two faculty members and three students. The
panel will be selected by the college hearing officer from faculty and currently enrolled students of
the college. The chair of the panel shall be a student appointed by the college hearing officer.
6.05 The Dean of Students.
The dean of students, or his or her designee, shall be required to attend all college hearings to serve
as a University of Houston resource person. This individual shall not have a vote at a college
hearing or be present during the deliberations of the panel.
6.06 Hearing Procedure.
a. The date of the hearing must be adhered to. Any delay must be approved by the college hearing
officer. Only documented, extenuating circumstances will be considered.
b. Three class days prior to the hearing, all parties shall notify the college hearing officer in writing
of the names of their witnesses, if any, and the subject of their testimonies. At that time, the parties
will also submit a copy of the documents they intend to present during the hearing. Upon request,
the college hearing officer will make available to the parties the information and documents
referenced in this section.
c. The hearing shall have an audio recording. The parties involved may obtain a copy of the
recording from the college hearing officer at the expense of the requesting party.
d. The hearing shall be held in two phases. The first phase is the determination of violation
followed, if necessary, by the sanction phase.
e. All parties shall be afforded the opportunity to present statements, pertinent documentation and
witnesses and have an opportunity to examine the documents pertaining to the alleged violations
during the hearing.
f. All parties shall have the right to advice of counsel of choice. This individual may attend the
hearing but shall not directly participate in the hearing or enter into discussion with the parties
present. The case presented to the panel must be made by the accusing individual and the accused
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student. The instructor or other individuals who reported the alleged misconduct shall present the
relevant information, including statements by witnesses. The accused student shall then present
his/her statement and relevant information, including statements by witnesses. Neither party shall
ask questions of or solicit answers directly from the other party or its witnesses. Where it appears
that there are matters of disputed fact, the college hearing officer shall request the panel to ask
appropriate questions of either or both parties and/or their respective witnesses so as to clarify the
points in dispute.
g. The panel shall have the right to question any and all witnesses and to examine documentation
presented.
h. At the conclusion of each phase of the hearing, the panel shall meet in a closed session to render a
decision. A student is found in violation of the academic honesty policy by a vote of four out of five
of the panel, and the sanction has to be agreed to by three or more. Upon reaching a decision in
either phase, the panel shall reconvene with all parties present and inform all parties of its
judgment.
i. The college hearing officer shall notify in writing all parties, including the dean of the college and
the provost, of the disposition of the case within five class days of receipt of the panels judgment.
6.07 Group Violations of the Academic Honesty Policy.
In instances where two or more students are alleged to be involved in the same infraction of the
academic honesty policy, at the discretion of the college hearing officer, the case against the whole
group will be heard by a single academic honesty panel. The facts common to all cases will be
presented with all students allegedly involved in attendance. Each student shall be allowed to
present his/her case and/or statements to the panel separately. If requested by the presenting
student, such statements shall be presented outside the hearing of the other students.

Article 7. Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Appeal
7.01 Appeal of the Panels Decision.
Within five class days of the panels decision, either party may file an appeal for review with the
provost or that officer designated by the provost. The appeal shall be in writing and shall
specifically address the issues to be reviewed.
7.02 Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Procedural Review.
The provost shall review the appeal within 15 class days of the receipt of the appeal. If either party
has requested an appearance or is requested to appear by the provost, then both parties must be
informed. Because the case was heard by a peer group, the intent of the provosts review is not to
modify the sanction nor to substitute the judgment of the provost for that of the peer panel which
heard the case, or hear new or additional facts on the case. The intent of this review is to ensure
that the college hearing and judgment were not arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory, did not
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violate the due process of the accused, and did not violate the concepts of fair play to both parties.
The provost shall notify all parties of the decision within three class days of the completion of the
review.
7.03 Actions Which the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost May Take.
a. The provost may conclude that one or more of the basic concepts involved in a fair hearing at the
college level were violated and return the case to the college for another hearing with a different
panel in accordance with Article 6 and resubmission for provost procedural review; or
b. If, in a rare case, the provost feels that another hearing in the same college would not result in a
fair hearing, the provost may send the case to another college with the disciplinary expertise to
hold a fair hearing, for a new hearing there in accordance with Article 6 and resubmission for
provost procedural review; or
c. If, in a rare case, the provost independently feels that the sanction assessed in the college hearing
is not commensurate with the violation, then the provost may send the case back to the college as
described above; or
d. The provost may approve the actions and conclusions of the college academic honesty panel and
see that the judgment is enforced. The provosts procedural review is the final institutional step in
matters of academic integrity.
Article 8. Records
8.01 Records of Academic Honesty Proceedings.
Records of proceedings under this Policy are considered a students education records in
accordance with the University of Houstons Student Records: Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act Policy. Records relating to departmental proceedings under this policy, including
waivers, will be maintained by the department. Records relating to college proceedings under this
policy, including waivers, will be maintained by the college.
8.02 Provosts Office.
The Office of the Provost shall maintain a record of those students found in violation of the policy at
any level, including those students who have elected a waiver of the departmental hearing (See
Article 5.04).
8.03 Notations on a Students Transcript.
A sanction of probation, suspension or expulsion under this policy may be expressly noted as such
on the students transcript, if specified as part of the sanction. When the specified period of time for
a sanction of probation or suspension has elapsed, the student may petition the college placing the
notation of academic honesty violation to request that the Office of the Registrar remove the
notation from the transcript. It is the students responsibility to initiate any petition to remove the
notation from the transcript. Notations of expulsion because of academic dishonesty are a
permanent part of the students transcript.